Cleaning - Summer Checklist

The warm weather of summer gives you a great opportunity to focus on cleaning certain areas of your home.  Tasks that were too cold to do in the spring should be easy for the summer.  The following summer cleaning tips can help you keep your home looking its best.

Getting started
Before you begin cleaning your home, do a little preparation.  First, have make a list of everything that you want to accomplish.  If your cleaning is going to take more than a day, create a timeframe.  You’ll also want to gather your supplies before you begin.  Try to have on hand the following:

• garbage bags for throwing away as much as you can as you clean,
• gloves to protect your hands,
• a good duster,
• white vinegar for cleaning most surfaces as well as mirrors and windows,
• lemon juice to remove stains from counters and to use as a disinfectant,
• baking soda for cleaning and scrubbing down your sinks, tubs, and toilets,
• club soda to remove stains in carpet and upholstery,
• distilled water to clean leather furniture, or
• your own favorite cleaning products.

Quarterly tasks
With a deep cleaning, there are certain tasks that need to be done at least every quarter to keep your home in good shape.  If you make these tasks a part of your quarterly cleaning, they shouldn’t take too long to do.

• Wash down the baseboards and moldings.
• Clean the exterior of all of your cabinetry.
• Wash the porches and exterior doors with an attachment on your water hose.

Summer tasks

• Wash the windows of your home, both inside and out.  You may need an attachment for your hose to help in cleaning the exterior of the windows.
• Use that attachment also for cleaning the siding of your house.  A pressure washer can be too rough unless used by a professional, so your water hose should suffice.
• Clean and restain your deck (if needed).
• Thoroughly wash the driveway and sidewalk.
• Clean your grill thoroughly. (It probably gets a lot of use during the summer.) 
• Clean the patio furniture so you can enjoy outdoor dinners.

There are areas that should get your attention on the indoors, too.

• Have the air conditioner serviced and all of the filters changed.  Summer is hard on an air conditioner, so you want it ready to go.
• Clean out the pantry.  Throw out food that is expired.  Donate cans that you stocked up on but never used.  Also, organize your pantry so you have a better feel for what you have.
• Have the water heater serviced.  This is best done by a professional.  It should be drained and flushed.  If you do decide to do it yourself, don’t forget to turn off the water and electricity first.
• Time to get rid of those dust mites sleeping in your mattresses.  Vacuum the mattresses and flip them if possible.  Also, be sure to wash all bed coverings in the hottest water possible.

Just a bit of deep cleaning can get your home in tip-top shape for the summer.  Be sure to divide the work up (and enlist help!) so you don’t overdo it.

Summer means outdoor living, so be sure to focus on that area of your home when cleaning.